Public Comment #57 to Maine PUC-LS Power Transmission Line

We recently purchased a property that is directly affected by one of the proposed routes of the
Aroostook Renewable Gateway project. We did not and still have not received ANY information
about this project from LS Power directly, we only know about this because of chatter in local
community forums.
Our affected property is largely protected wetlands, marshland, and protected watershed, old
growth forest, with incredible ancient trees, and the property itself also has historical
significance. We fell in absolute love with this land, the abundance of wildlife and the untouched
magic of it. It seems there are not many places left where you can find old forests left intact. And
that’s exactly why we purchased it! To enjoy it, and PRESERVE it for generations, in all its
untouched, natural, incredible state. So imagine our heartbreak when we learned (through a
community Facebook post) that potentially a massive transmission line wants to bulldoze right
through the center of it, protected wetlands, hundred year old trees and all.
Some of the wildlife we’ve had the pleasure to observe in this beautiful, safe, habitat include;
deer, turkeys, eagles, osprey, beavers, raccoons, porcupines, possums, owls, toads, tree frogs,
bull frogs, wood frogs, (all the frogs really!), many different kind of salamanders, fish, various
species of turtles, crayfish, songbirds, crows, ravens, hawks, coyotes, great herrings,
woodpeckers, fisher, fox, wood ducks, mice, squirrels, chipmunks, snakes, and tons of insects.
Imagining the devastation the construction of this project will cause to this habitat, and the
wildlife that have been SAFE here for hundreds of years is gut wrenching. Plus the incredible
visual eye sore these monstrous towers create.
We want a place for our children, our community's children, and future generations to safely
explore and learn about nature and the environment. To see the diversity of animals thriving in
their natural habitats. The Aroostook Renewable Gateway destroys that dream, not just for us
but for all who have property LS Power wants to take from, and all who enjoy the beauty of
these incredible, untouched, natural places that are becoming far and few between.
This project was proposed and voted on with very little information provided, no proposed
routes, and no clear long term goals besides making this out of state company a bunch of
money, at the cost of many Mainers' livelihoods. When affected landowners were finally
informed of this most questions we’ve had can not be answered by LS Power with anything but
lots of “we don’t know yets” And the fact that people like us who bought our dream property
recently still have not been reached out to and they could potentially take 15-20 acres from us
while destroying the integrity of the entire property AND those surrounding, is just insane. It’s
unacceptable.
I understand LS Power is not from the State of Maine, and may not understand our attachment
to our beautiful state, our HOME. But that’s no excuse. This should have been done better. It
needs to be done better. For the future of our children and of Maine.